Tube disposal in heat-transfer apparatus



TATAQTTA J. E. ERCANBRACK TUBE `DISPOSAL TN HEAT TRANSFER APPARATUS Filed Sept. '7, 1926 2 Sheelts-Sheet l awww@ Fcem E 9 EME?,

J. E. ERCANERACK TUBE DISPOSAL IN HEAT TRANSFER APFARATUS Filed sept. 7,'1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented liebo l, 1927 tiene JOHN EDWARD EECANBRACK, OF CHICAGO, IIELLNUIS.

nnen nrsrosan In' near-TRANSFER nrrana'rus.

Application led September 7, 1926. l Serial No. 133,786.

My present invention relates to improvements in tube disposal in. heat transfer apparatus, and has for its objects the control of the pitch ofthe tubes, the more advantageous u disposal of the tubes either for the absorption or radiation of heat, and the reducing and more edective handling of diderences of en' pansion and contraction without greatly ab tering either the amount or shape of the lo space occupied by the tubes.1

As it well hnown, the heating of water causes its expansion, thereby decreasin its densit and lessening its weight. lf tiere be co der water in the compartment or system. ot compartments in which the heat` is imparted lying above the heated water' it will How downwardly and displace the heated, lighter water upwardly. 'lhere are two classes ot heat transfer apparatus to which my resent invention particularly appertains. yoth ot these classes involve the employment ot tubes included in one circulatory system, which 'tubes are inclosed within a compartment, includedv within another circulatory s fsteln. 'ln one of the classes above reterre to the heating water circulates through the tubes, the heat therein being transferred by conduction to the water in the compartment, and in the other class the heating water circulates vthrough the compartment and its heat is transferred by contluctionl to the water in the tubes. ln both classes, however, andin both tubes and compartments the colder, heavier, higher water continually dis laces the hotter,

lighter, lower watere Wghile this process is continually going on, and, in tact, cannot be prevented, it can, nevertheless, be greatly' accelerated by giving to the tubes a suitable pitch anddisposition so as to facilitate the circulations both in the tubes and in the compartment.

lll] ith respect to the concentration ot the tubes, `that is, their grouping within arelactively/restricted area, it can easily be carried to a point at which conduction is unduly obstructed, rilhe tubes can also be grouped in such a separated and dispersed relation'that,6 while conduction is less ati-- fected by adjacent tubes the rate ot heat transference for the system as a whole, will be so great because there well be lesser 'variations or temperature, or 'tempera-1 ture dihlerential, diderent portions et the 5 be understood by talring account that the rate conduction increases with the increase of the diderence of temperature between the points Where conduction occurs.

A concentrated arrangement is highly desirable as it saves both space and metal, but the most eliicient arrangement is that in which, as nearl as possible,- a uniform rate ot conduction 1s secured throughout the entire length of the tubes. As will hereafter be seen ll attain this conditionby grouping the inlet and discharge ends of the tubes in vertical lines in which arrangement the parts ot greatest and least conductive efficiency are combined, While the header which -joins the upper and lower tubes relate them in horizontal lines. c

ln cases in which the heating water circulates through the tubes and the water to which the heat is transferred is in the compartment, the water in the tubes, as it gives. up its heat, gravitates to the lower point and draws lighter hot water after it. That is, the hot Water enters the tube system at the higher point and, of course, at this point, it is the hottest and the difference of temperature between this hottest water and the water to be heated is the greatest and the rate of heat transfer the highest. AS the heating' water proceeds through the tube it loses its heat until at the point where the tubes leave the compartment, it is coolest.

By bringing back the lower end of the tube directly under the upper or entering end the water in the compartment, heated by the lower tube, rises around the upper end, thereby decreasing the did'erence of temperature between the entering hot water and the surrounding partially heated water which is to be further heated.' .lhis results in a less rate of conduction or heat transterence at the point of entry ot the heating `water so that the heating water reaches the middle and discharge ends ot the tube at a higher temperature, thereby increasing the elhciency of the tube as a whole, while diminishing it at the point of its entrance into the compartment.

ln the class ot cases in which the heating weiter is contained in thecompartnient and the water to be heated is circulated in the tubes, the cold water enters the tubes at the lower opening and is surrounded by the heating water which falls as it gives up part ot its heat to the discharge end et the tubea .ln this case also my arrangementis economical as the water 'throughout the cornlltl Ill@

, showing the vertical relation of the tubes lwhich three upper and a single pertinent gives up its heat more uniformly instead ot having the heat transference greatly concentrated about the point of en# trance o the cold water circulation.

As will hereinafter be seen my arrangement gradually changes the upper and lower tubes from a vertical to a horizontal arrangement, and in this manner, secures a uniform pitch and a slight bending of each pipe, which bending assists the structure. in taking care of such diierences in expansion and contraction as have not been eliminated by the more uniform temperature maintained throughout the tubes.

ln disposing the tubes, as above described, it is necessary to employ a spacer or spreader at their middle portions for otherwise they would be brought into contact to the extent of their bend or twist much as the strands of a rope.

I attain the foregoing objects and results by means of the structure illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which- Fig. 1 is a central horizontal section through a compartment or tank showing the tubes installed therein in plan,

Fig. 2 is a central vertical section through the compartment or tank showing the heating tubes in elevation, I

Fig. 3 is a section on line 3-3 in Fig. 1,

at their :iront ends,V

Fi a. is a section on line /l-fi in Fig. 1, in w ich the spacer is shown in elevation and the relation oi the tubes at their mid portion is illustrated, Y

Fig. 5 is a section on line 5--5 in Fi 1, showing the relation of the tubes at t eir inner ends'.

Fig. 6 is a plan oi a tube arrangement in lower tube are employed,

Fig. 7 is an elevation oi the structure shown inFig. 6,

Fig. 8 is a section on line 8--8 in Fig. 6 showing the vertical relation of the three upper and single lower tubes at their iront ends, v

Fig. 9 is a section on line 9 9 in Fig. t5 showing the mid relation oi the tubes and the spacer in elevation,

Fig. 10 is a section on line 10--10 in Fig. 6, showing the relationoi the tubes at their rear ends,

. Fig. 11 isa plan oi a grouping ol eight' upper and eight lower tubes,

Fig. 12 is an' elevation ot the structure shownin Fig. 11,

Fig. 13 is a section on line 13-13 in Fig.

11 showing the vertical relation ot the upper and lower groups at their'iro'nt ends,

Fig. 14. is a section on line lll-1li in Fig. 11, showing themid relation oi the respective groups and the spacers in elevation, and

Fig. section on lin@ lire-l5 in Fig.

opposite side, which, lin certain cases,` is

11, showing the relation ofthe groupsat their rear ends.

Similar` reference 'characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

-The tank, or compartment, 5, shown is of the clyindrical, horizontal type in which are provided inlet fittings, 6, and .outlet or discharge fittings, 7. The end of the tank, in the lower portion thereof, is perforated, as at 8, for the admission of the tubes, 9 and 10. To the end of the tank about the aperture 8 is secured in any desired manner, a hollow embossment, 11, to the face ot which is bolted a' tube plate, 12, and the iiange of an exterior casing, 13. The exterior casing is provided with a horizontal, transversepartition, 14, located between the upper and lower tubes, and the vertical sides and front ot the exterior casing are closed by plates 15, 16 and 17. The plate 16 isshown as provided with a tapped aperture for receiving the end of pipe 18, and plate l5 is `imperiforate, but by changing plates 15 and 1G the connection may be made from the Sil il@ necessary. ln the bottom of the casing 13 is provided a tapped aperture for receiving the pipe, 19 by means ci which and pipe 18, the tubes are connected with their circulatory system. The central horizontal partition, 14, in the head, divides the same into the upper compartment, 20, and the lower compartment, 21, and secured in the tube plate, 12, so as to communicate resepectively with the compartments 20 and 21 are theupper tube, 9, and the lower tube, 10. rlhe inner ends ofthe tubes, 9 and 10, communicate through a header, 22, which spaces the rear `ends oi tubes, 9 and 10, approximately as lar apart as their iront ends are spaced by reason oi 'their assembly with the tube plate, 12. The header, 22, may be cast or formed in any desiredmanner and consists of a hollow casing into one side wall 22a of which are secured 'the tube 9 and the tube l0 in lhorizontal relation.

lin rotating the inner header to control the pitch oi the upperl tube 9 and the lower tube 10, a slightcurvature or bow is given the tubes which permits them to expand and contract with less strain upon their points otattachment. lo maintain the relative' spacing oi the tubes with respect to one another, ll locateat about their central portions a spacer, 23, consisting ont a casting with arms 23a, extended to partially ein'l brace the respective tubes.

ltwill befseen that in Figs. 1 to 5 inn elusive, is illustrated a device with a length oit ingoing and a length oit' outcoming tubing. Fig. 3 illustrates the vertical arran ement ot these tubes at their iront ends. iig. [i illustrates the manner in which the tubes `are slightly bowed at their central portions in order to peit ol their front ends lOU lll-l lll ill

inerente arranged in vertical alignment and their inner ends, as shown in Fig. 5, in horizontal alignment.

. In Figs. 6 to 10 inclusive, I have illustrated a tube system consisting of three upper tubes, 9, and a single lower tube, 10a. In this case, as shown in Fig. 9, the spacer consists ot' a suitable piece of metal, 23h, perforated at 23 for the passage of the upper tubes, the edge of the spacer 231 impinging against the lower tube. Figs. 8 to 10, inclusive, show consecutively the relations of this arrangement of tubes at respectively their front, intermediate and rear ends.

In Figs. 11 to 15, inclusive, I have shown an arrangement consistingof eight upper and eight lower tubes. The spacer in this arrangement consists of two plates, 23, perforated for the passage of the tubes, the edges of these plates contacting to keep the two sets of tubes from coming too closely together.

It will be noted that the eight tubes are arranged in a square of three tubes to a side, the tubes at ythe adjacent corners of the square, when the intermediate relation of the tubes is considered, being-omitted.

Fig. 13 shows the relation of this grouping` at its front end, Fig. 14.- at its intermediate portion and Fig. 15 illustrates the horizontal disposition of the upper and lower groups at the inner ends of the tubes. In cases where a plurality of tubes is used in place of a single tube, the general operation of the upper -and lower groups are the same as with a single tube, although there are entirely diHerent conditions developed by the reaction of the tubes between each other. The grouping, as illustrated in Figs.' llto 15, inclusive, is what may be described as concentrated, in which class of cases my manner of disposition is peculiarly advantageous.

Having described invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is v 1. In a heat transfer apparatus consisting of a plurality of tubesincluded in one circulatory system and a compartment enclosing said tubes, said compartment being yincluded in an independent circulatory system, the disposal ot' said tubes in vertical alignment at their entering and discharge` ends and in horizontal alignment at their inner communicating ends.

2. In a heat transfer` apparatus consisting ot a plurality of tubes included in one circulatory system and a compartment enclosing said tubes, said compartment being included in an independent circulatory system, the disposal oit' said tubes in vertical alignment at their entering and discharge ends and in horizontal alignment at their inner communicating ends and means for spacing said tubes intermediate their lengths.

In a heat transfer apparatus consisting ot' .a plurality of tubes included in one cirsaid tubes, said compartment being included inan independent circulatory system, the disposal of said tubes in vertically aligning groups at their entering and discharge ends and yin horizontal alignment at their inner communicating ends and means'iior spacing said tubes intermediate their lengths.

JOHN EDWARD' ERCANBRACK. 

